Top Trucks: India’s most popular pickups

Growing demand for last-mile delivery and distribution, and explosion in e-commerce and home deliveries has fueled a high demand for higher payload and power trucks. The pickups are the most suitable truck to fulfill these requirements, and hence this small commercial vehicle segment emerged as the single largest volume category in the India truck industry. What makes them unique and which are the top-selling pickup in India? We find out. 

Over the last decade, the Indian transport sector has been undergoing unique trends, altering the sector, and transforming it in many ways. More and more demand for a strong, reliable, and highly fuel-efficient truck for last-mile delivery and distribution become the most sought after vehicle by small business, entrepreneurs and even fleet-operators and logistic companies. This bolstered the sales of pickup cargo trucks, and so does the interest of OEMs to address this growing market to gain crucial leadership and volumes too. 

The pickup trucks often used for cargo deliveries and special applications are part of the larger small commercial vehicle segment. This segment boomed after the Tata Ace popularity and flooded with several competitive products. These are typically four-wheel vehicles with (2-3.5T GVW) payload starting above 1000 kgs. Over the years, truck makers have expanded the category by introducing variants at various tonnage and applications to address demands. As a result, the pickup segment grew wider and a whole lot of products in the category. In FY'20, the pickup segment's total industry volumes were 2,31,982 units, making the top segment in total truck sales, despite the drop in the truck sales due to several factors. 

There are several products in this category, hence ranking of models is something tricky, yet we tried to cover top-selling pickup truck-in the 1000-1700 kg payload category. Read to know more. 

Mahindra Bolero Pikup   

Mahindra Bolero Pikup is by far the most popular vehicle in the pickup category in India. Bolero has not only reinvented it but also expanded by introducing multiple products in the category. The popularity of Bolero makes Mahindra the leader in the category with over 65% market share. Over the years, competition has sprung up aggressively, yet, Bolero not only maintains its stronghold but also tighten it even firmly. In FY'20, Mahindra sold a total of 1,51,384 units in the category claiming over 65% market share. 

Mahindra Bolero Pikup is available in as many as 8- different variants in diesel and CNG, thus catering virtually every possible customer needs. It gets m2DiCR 2.5L TB, diesel BS6 engine and MSI 4-cylinder CNG engine. The power ranges from 48hp to 75hp in different in both diesel and CNG variants. This truck gets all the highly optimized aggregates, special applications bodies for special applications, modern design, and a comfortable cabin packed with contemporary features. 

Bolero variants available on sales includes Extra long, Extra strong, 4x4, City pik-up, Maxitruck plus, Camper, Maxitruck CNG and Pik-up CNG. The payload ranges between 1000 kg to 1700 kg depending upon the variants. The versatility, modern features, practicality, lowest running cost, and overall value for money product makes Bolero the undisputed leader in India’s pickup category.

Yodha

Tata Motors is another key player in the pickup and SCV segment with a strong portfolio at different prices and tonnage points. The Yodha is among the most prominent products in the last-mile delivery segment, and it comes in several variants, multiple cabins, and payload. Among the most compelling products with new BS6 powertrain, higher power engine, and a bigger cargo carrying capacities with the modern cabin. 

Yodha is famous for its rugged and strong look among its peers. It comes with single cab and crew cabin variants with 4x2 and 4x4 drive options. It comes in several payloads of 1200 kg, 1500 kg, and 1700 kg, Tata Motors has also implied the wide range of usage the customer preferences. Thus it offers the flexibility of customized body options too.

Tata Motors offers superior mileage, key performance characteristics, ability to earn more revenue and the safest pickup in the segment. Tata Yodha comes with contemporary features, stylish look and commitment of performance to take on the challenging last-mile logistics and supply chain demands. Besides Yodha, Tata Motors also offer Xenon and 207 variants of pickup for the customers. 

Dost

Ashok Leyland Dost platform has emerged as the second most popular product in the pickup segment. Dost is also available in multiple variants to help the customer choose the right truck as per the application's needs. The Dost mini-truck, since its inception instantly become legendary among the small business, entrepreneurs, and even first time buyer in the logistics supply and distribution segments due to its practicality, performance and durability.  

Ashok Leyland retails Dost plus, Dost Strong and Dost CNG variants with key features and a modern powertrain, which promises durability and superior performance. Dost Plus and Dost Strong are available in three different variants with combinations of features and utilities, keeping the price points in mind. 

Dost Plus comes with 80HP motor and Dost strong in 70hp, which produces 190 and 170Nm of torque. It carries higher payload without compromising pickup, and also the mileage. This ensures the customer can deliver faster shipments, hence helping to earn more profit every trip. Dost platform was the first product from Ashok Leyland in the LCV segment, the company introduce it with a lot of market research and understanding the customer requirements-this made the product an instant hit among SCV buyers, this also helped the company grabbed 3rd spot in the fast-growing pickup segment with closely behind Tata Motors. 

Isuzu D-Max

Isuzu Motors, the global leader in the pickup market, is the latest entrant in India's pickup market in India. The company is convinced with the high growth potential of India's pickups market and the exponential demand likely to be fueled by higher domestic consumption. Isuzu is keen to replicate its global success in India by being a strong player in the pickup segment. Isuzu retails two variants of its D-Max and D-Max S-cab-both for the value and premium customers of the cargo and logistics transportation. 

Both the products are globally proven vehicles, design, and developed for Indian road and duty cycles. Last few years, the company has gradually expanded its sales, service network as the brand is started to gain traction among Indian buyers. Yet, the company has less than 2% market share in the overall pickup segment; however, the company has a greater ambition to penetrate this market, distinctive offering customers, and gradually gaining market share. 

Unquestionably, the pickup segment in India has sprung up speedily over the last few years, changing the dynamics of distribution and consumption. As a result, OEMs have bought compelling products to address the rapidly transforming supply and distribution chains.

Also Read: India's top 10-wheel rigid trucks explored!